Flock Safety Denies Sending Fake Cease-and-Desist Letter

Surveillance technology company Flock Safety has faced backlash after a photo of a cease-and-desist letter emerged on Instagram, but the company claims the letter is fake.

The Instagram account for a lecture series in Newport Beach, California, posted an image of a letter it said was taped to its front door. The letter demanded the group stop hosting conversations about Flock’s surveillance technology. The post received over 3,000 likes, and a separate post on Bluesky was reposted more than 360 times.

Schuyler Lifschultz, a representative of the group, told The Verge they found the letter on their door. However, Flock’s chief strategy officer Rahul Sidhu denied the company sent it, calling it part of a “mass disinformation campaign.” Sidhu stated, “Flock never sent this letter, these people made it up (with a forged signature).” He added that Flock is pro-democracy and encourages such discussions.

Dan Haley, Flock’s chief legal officer, confirmed in a statement that at least two forged letters are circulating online and that neither came from him or anyone at Flock. Haley noted that his actual title is “Chief Legal Officer,” not “Head of Legal Affairs Division” as written in the forged letter. The Verge attempted to email the address listed on the letter but received a bounceback.

Lifschultz said the group would welcome Flock representatives to speak at a lecture. Another forged letter targeted musician Noah Orion, who sells “Fuck Flock” stickers on his website. The letter referred to the company as “Flock Cameras” and “Flock incorporated [sic],” and used the incorrect phrase “may result in Flock Group inc. [sic] to persecute you,” confusing “persecute” with “prosecute.”

Flock Safety maintains it has not and would not try to discourage debate about its technology, and is willing to participate in such discussions.